Women in Activism Film Festival 2018

This film festival celebrating the legacy of black women activists returns

The Women in Activism Film Festival 2018 is a programme of screenings curated by Black History Studies in partnership with the Bernie Grant Arts Centre, celebrating the role of black women in activism and highlighting their contributions through history. The festival features a mixture of feature films and documentaries, plus presentations and engaging post-screening discussions with audience members.

Angela Davis: Portrait of a Revolutionary (SOLD OUT)

Writer and intellectual Angela Davis was one of the most outspoken activists of the 1960s and 1970s. A professor of philosophy at UCLA, Davis was also a communist, a Black Panther, and a vocal critic of the U.S. government, as well as sexism, racism and war. This documentary, directed by Yolande DuLuart, one of Davis’ former students, shows Davis speaking at public rallies and interacting with her students. The film also covers the controversial arrest of Davis in 1970.

The Amazing Nina Simone (SOLD OUT)

Black History Studies brings you the loved and often misunderstood story of America’s most overlooked musical genius, finally brought to light in The Amazing Nina Simone. Director Jeff L. Lieberman brings audiences on Nina’s journey from the segregated South, through the worlds of classical music, jazz joints and international concert halls. Navigating through the twists and turns of the 1960s fight for racial equality, the film delves deep into Nina’s artistry and intentions, answering long-held questions behind Nina’s most beloved songs, bold style, controversial statements, and the reason she left America.

Kimpa Vita: Mother of the African Revolution

At a time of strife and civil war in the Kingdom of Kongo, a young woman leads a mass movement calling for unity and an end to Portuguese dominance. A Ne Kunda Nlaba’s biopic documentary explores her legacy, revealing how powerful African kingdoms were wickedly invaded by the West and suffered slavery and exploitation .In the early 1700s, a fearless young woman decides to fight for her country and while she tragically meets her demise, she will always be remembered as Kimpa Vita, mother of the African revolution.

Reflections Unheard: Black Women in Civil Rights

Where do Black women activists fit into the epochal struggles for equality and liberation during the 1960s and 70s? This feature-length documentary unearths the story of Black women’s political marginalization between the male-dominated Black Power movement and second wave feminism, which was largely white and middle class, showing how each failed to recognise black women’s overlapping racial and gender identities. Archival footage and in-depth interviews with former members reveal how black women mobilized, fought for recognition, and raised awareness of how sexism and class issues affected women of colour.Prominently featured activists include Frances Beale, Angela Davis, Kola Boof, Nikki Giovanni, Rosemari Mealy, Judy Richardson, Gwendolyn Simmons, Deborah Singletary, and Eugenia Wiltshire.